—–Original Message—–
From: JW
Sent: Fri 11/18/2016 6:33 PM
To: Walter Block
Subject: Anti-Trust and liberty
Thank you Prof Block. A related issue is anti-trust laws. We libertarians are opposed to anti-trust laws on principle, but is it possible, as with libel laws, these could also be used against mainstream and social media conglomerates, like the Washington Post or Twitter? They both promote the status quo. Twitter is banning right-wing accounts while doing nothing about death threats against white people and there could be an anti-trust suit made. Trump I think has referred to perhaps using anti-trust against Jeff Bezos. JW
Dear JW: Yes, I oppose anti-trust laws (see below for the case against), but, just as in the case of libel laws (which I also oppose, ditto), I see no reason why either may not be used against the bad guys. For example, I would have no objection to a law suit by the (so-called) Justice Department against the Food and Drug Administration, or, indeed, against the entire US government (yes, of which it is a part) on the ground that the US government has a monopoly of the legal initiation of physical violence in its geographical area. As for Trump versus Bezos, I think libertarian ruling class analysis is unclear on this matter. The issue here is too close to a continuum (Block, Walter and William Barnett II. 2008. “Continuums” Journal Etica e Politica / Ethics & Politics, Vol. 1, pp. 151-166, June; http://www2.units.it/~etica/; http://www2.units.it/~etica/2008_1/BLOCKBARNETT.pdf). However, I would certainly support a President Ron Paul’s lawsuit against the Washington Post on anti trust, libel or indeed any other ground, as a matter of deontology. As far as pragmatism is concerned, this in my prudential judgment would be a disaster. It would be sort of like Ron Paul accepting matching funds for his political campaigns. On that see this: Block, Walter E. 2007. “Ron Paul and Matching Funds,” October 1; http://archive.lewrockwell.com/block/block86.html
Anti-trust:
Armstrong (1982), Barnett, Block and Saliba (2005, 2007), Block (1977, 1982, 1994), Block and Barnett (forthcoming), Boudreaux and DiLorenzo (1992), DiLorenzo (1997), DiLorenzo and High (1988), High (1984-1985), McChesney (1991), Rothbard (2004), Shugart (1987), Smith (1983), Tucker (1998A, 1998B)
Anderson, et. al., 2001; Armentano, 1972, 1982, 1989,1999; Barnett, et. al., 2005, 2007; Block, 1977, 1982, 1994; Block and Barnett, 2009; Boudreaux and DiLorenzo, 1992; Costea, 2003; DiLorenzo, 1996; DiLorenzo and High, 1988; Henderson, 2013; High,1984-1985; Hull, 2005; McChesney, 1991; McGee, 1958; Rothbard, 2004; Shugart, 1987; Smith, 1983; Tucker, 1998A, 1998B
Anderson, William, Walter E. Block , Thomas J. DiLorenzo, Ilana Mercer, Leon Snyman and Christopher Westley. 2001. “The Microsoft Corporation in Collision with Antitrust Law,” The Journal of Social, Political and Economic Studies, Vol. 26, No. 1, Winter, pp. 287-302
Armentano, Dominick T. 1972. The Myths of Antitrust, New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House,.
Armentano, Dominick T. 1982. Antitrust and Monopoly: Anatomy of a Policy Failure, New York: Wiley
Armentano, Dominick T. 1989. “Antitrust Reform: Predatory Practices and the Competitive Process.” Review of Austrian Economics Vol. 3, pp. 61-74. http://www.mises.org/journals/rae/pdf/rae3_1_4.pdf
Armentano, Dominick T. 1999. Antitrust: The Case for Repeal. Revised 2nd ed., Auburn AL: Mises Institute
Barnett, William, Walter E. Block and Michael Saliba. 2005. “Perfect Competition: A Case of ‘Market-Failure,’” Corporate Ownership & Control. Vol. 2, No. 4, summer, p. 70-75
Barnett, William II, Walter E. Block and Michael Saliba. 2007. “Predatory pricing.” Corporate Ownership & Control, Vol. 4, No. 4, Continued – 3, Summer; pp. 401-406
Block, Walter. 1977. “Austrian Monopoly Theory — a Critique,” The Journal of Libertarian Studies, Vol. I, No. 4, Fall, pp. 271-279.
Block, Walter. 1982. Amending the Combines Investigation Act, Vancouver: The Fraser Institute.
Block, Walter. 1994. “Total Repeal of Anti-trust Legislation: A Critique of Bork, Brozen and Posner, Review of Austrian Economics, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 35-70.
Block, Walter and William Barnett. 2009. “Monopsony Theory.” American Review of Political Economy June/December, Vol. 7(1/2), pp. 67-109; http://www.arpejournal.com/ARPEvolume7number1-2/Block-Barnett.pdf; http://www.arpejournal.com/
Boudreaux, Donald J., and DiLorenzo, Thomas J. 1992. “The Protectionist Roots of Antitrust,” Review of Austrian Economics, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 81-96
Costea, Diana. 2003. “A Critique of Mises’s Theory of Monopoly Prices.” The Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. Vol. 6, No. 3, Fall, pp. 47-62; http://www.mises.org/journals/qjae/pdf/qjae6_3_3.pdf
DiLorenzo, Thomas J. 1996. “The Myth of Natural Monopoly,” Review of Austrian Economics, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 43-58; http://www.mises.org/journals/rae/pdf/rae9_2_3.pdf
DiLorenzo, Tom and Jack High. 1988. “Antitrust and Competition, Historically Considered,” Economic Inquiry, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 423-435, July.
Henderson, David R. 2013. “The Robber Barons: Neither Robbers nor Barons.” Library of Economics and Liberty. March 4;
http://www.econlib.org/cgi-bin/printarticle2.pl?file=Columns/y2013/Hendersonbarons.html
High, Jack. 1984-1985. “Bork’s Paradox: Static vs Dynamic Efficiency in Antitrust Analysis,” Contemporary Policy Issues, Vol. 3, pp. 21-34.
Hull, Gary, ed. 2005. The Abolition of Antitrust. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers
McChesney, Fred. 1991. “Antitrust and Regulation: Chicago’s Contradictory Views,” Cato Journal, Vol. 10.
McGee, John S. 1958. “Predatory Price Cutting: The Standard Oil (New Jersey) Case,” The Journal of Law and Economics, October, pp. 137-169
Rothbard, Murray N. (2004 [1962]). Man, Economy and State, Auburn AL: Ludwig von Mises Institute, Scholar’s Edition; http://www.mises.org/rothbard/mes.asp
Shugart II, William F. 1987. “Don’t Revise the Clayton Act, Scrap It!,” 6 Cato Journal, 925
Smith, Jr., Fred L. 1983. “Why not Abolish Antitrust?,” Regulation, Jan-Feb, 23; http://cei.org/op-eds-and-articles/why-not-abolish-antitrust
Tucker, Jeffrey. 1998A. “Controversy: Are Antitrust Laws Immoral?” Journal of Markets & Morality. Vol. 1, No. 1, March, pp. 75-82; http://www.acton.org/publications/mandm/mandm_controversy_35.php
Tucker, Jeffrey. 1998B. “Controversy: Are Antitrust Laws Immoral? A Response to Kenneth G. Elzinga.” Journal of Markets & Morality. Vol. 1, No. 1, March, pp. 90-94; http://www.acton.org/publications/mandm/mandm_controversy_37.php
Libel:
Block 1976, ch. 7, 2008; Rothbard, 1998, ch. 16
Block, Walter E. 2008 [1976]. Defending the Undefendable. Auburn, AL: The Mises Institute;
Block, Walter. 2008. “Sue for libel?” December 29; https://www.lewrockwell.com/block/block124.html
Rothbard, Murray N. 1998 [1982] The Ethics of Liberty, New York: New York University Press. http://www.mises.org/rothbard/ethics/ethics.asp
12:59 pm on November 19, 2016
